KATHMANDU, March 26 (Xinhua) -- The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) car rally organized with a view to enhancing peace, good will, tourism and trade investment as well as promoting regional feelings among SAARC member-nations has beenwelcomed at Banke district in mid-western Nepal Monday.

    According to the National News Agency, RSS report, various industrialists, business people, employees, students, journalists including civil society representatives welcomed the car rally.

    Welcoming the participants of the car rally, Nepalgunj Chambers of Commerce and Industry Chairman Damodatr Acharya said that the rally has been successful to impart the message of peace and good will to the world.

    Mahabub Sajjad of the car rally program said the rally has been organized with a view to promoting peace, coordination and economic cooperation in the SAARC.

    The rally is set to enter towards India from Mahendranagar border point of western Nepal Monday.

    According to the report, a total of 120 persons from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, the Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka and 30 vehicles are in the rally, along with 20 vehicles are part of the rally.

    Finally the rally will end in Male on April 14, where 15th SAARC summit is expected to be held.

    The rally will reach New Delhi on April 3 and take part in the 14th SAARC summit.

    The SAARC car rally, which began from Dhaka, Bangladesh, 11 days ago, is scheduled to cross 8,200 km before ending in the Maldives.